Recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed people of the nation to make nation free from Single Use Plastics by October 2, 2019. He aimed to ban single use plastics completely across the nation by year 2022. The government urged to all ministries to stop uses of single use plastics.
On October 2, 2019 some items will be ban and a timeline will be given to them to take themselves toward an alternative of single use plastics.
Home Minister urged women to stop using plastic bags and use cloth or paper bags for buying anything.
Many departments has started to implement this, like
On October 2, 2019 some items will be ban and a timeline will be given to them to take themselves toward an alternative of single use plastics.
Home Minister urged women to stop using plastic bags and use cloth or paper bags for buying anything.
Many departments has started to implement this, like
- Railway department
- Environment department
- National Highways Authority of India(NHAI)
- Air India from October 2 is going to ban plastics completely in alliance air and in Air India express. This would happen in two stages
- Ban in Air India Express and Alliance Air.
- Then Ban in flights of Air India.
Bangladesh is the first country to ban plastics.
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| Source: Google |
Some Data Related to Plastic Pollution
In the world
Every year, nearly 300 million tonnes of plastic is produced in the world. More than 50% of total is dumped by using once. Only 10-13% of total production is recycled.
In India
In India, 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated every day, out of which 9,000 tonnes is collected and processed, 6,000tonnes of plastic waste is not being collected.
What is Single Use Plastics?
Single Use Plastics is the name given to those plastic products which people use once and throw them away. It comprises of 40% of total plastic waste generation. Examples- plastics that is used in packaging-Milk, Water Bottles, Sweet's Boxes, Chips, Carry Bags, Straws, Blood Pouches and Injection Syringes etc.
Single Use Plastics ban program will execute in three sessions
- In one session, awareness program would be done across the country.
- In second session, different government agencies would collect single use plastics.
- In third session, all collected plastics would be recycled.
What is Plastics?
A synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers of high molecular mass such as polythene, PVC, Nylon etc that can molded into shape while soft and then set into a rigid or slightly elastic form. Mostly all plastics are derived from petrochemicals.
The word plastic is coined from a Greek word "Plastikos" which means 'to mold' or 'to manufacture'. In 1862, Alexander Parkes invented first man made plastic, who publicly demonstrated it at Great International Exhibition in London.
The vast majority of these polymers are formed from chain of carbon atoms; pure or with the addition of oxygen, Nitrogen or sulfur. The chain contains repeated units formed from monomers. Each polymers chain have several thousands repeating units.
Plastic is highly used because of its light weight, cheap, durable, it can lift 1000 time of its weight, ease of manufacturing, easily available, versatility and impervious to water.
Plastics are used in multitude of products of different scale, like in packaging, buildings(piping, plumbing and vinyl siding), in automobiles, furniture, toys, medicines etc.
The world's fully synthetic plastic was 'Bakelite' invented in New York in 1907.
The word plastic is coined from a Greek word "Plastikos" which means 'to mold' or 'to manufacture'. In 1862, Alexander Parkes invented first man made plastic, who publicly demonstrated it at Great International Exhibition in London.
The vast majority of these polymers are formed from chain of carbon atoms; pure or with the addition of oxygen, Nitrogen or sulfur. The chain contains repeated units formed from monomers. Each polymers chain have several thousands repeating units.
Plastic is highly used because of its light weight, cheap, durable, it can lift 1000 time of its weight, ease of manufacturing, easily available, versatility and impervious to water.
Plastics are used in multitude of products of different scale, like in packaging, buildings(piping, plumbing and vinyl siding), in automobiles, furniture, toys, medicines etc.
The world's fully synthetic plastic was 'Bakelite' invented in New York in 1907.
Plasticity
It is the general property of a material which can deform irreversibly without breaking.
What is the problem with the Plastics?
- The recycling of the petroleum plastics is very difficult because it is not biodegradable and on throwing, it goes to soil or by flowing through rivers it goes to oceans where it disintegrate into small particles and these small particles change to poisonous chemicals which cause soil and water pollution. Through these mediums they enter into our food and water and when we intake these food and water, these chemicals cause serious health problems like
- Cancer.
- It reduces the ability of our immune system and it also affects reproduction system.
- On burning, they release poisonous gases which cause air pollution. It is expected that till 2030, Carbon dioxide release due to plastic burning would become 3 fold.
- In the soil, These plastic particles block seepage of water which results in less efficient refilling of water table. It also reduce fertility of soil. So pressing plastics inside soil is also dangerous.
- When it goes to the oceans, aquatic animals think that it is a jelly fish when they eat them it affects their lives as well as reproduction cycle of aquatic animals which leads to destruction of these animals.
- Nearly 1,00,000 animals and bird die each year by eating plastic.
- According to researchers only 1% of plastic is floating in ocean other is either inside the stomach of aquatic animals or at the bottom of oceans.
- Plastic takes 500 to 1000 years to degrade.
- World's 8% oil is consumed in its production.
Plastic Waste Management Rule, 2016
Main features of this rule
- Minimum thickness of plastic bags has been increased from 40 microns to 50 microns. It is likely to increase cost by 20%.
- Now, these rules are applicable both in municipal area as well as in all villages.
- 'Collect Back System' is introduced- The producers, importers and brand owners who introduce plastic bags, multi-layered plastic sachet, or pouches in the market within a period of 6 months from the date of publications of these rules, need to establish a system for collecting back the plastic waste generated due to their products. they shall work out for waste collection system based on 'Extended Producers Responsibility'.
- Phasing out of manufacture and use of non- recyclable multi-layered plastic
- Responsibility of waste generator- All institutional generator of plastic waste, shall segregate and store the waste generated by them and handover segregated waste to authorized waste processing or disposal facilities or deposition centers.
- Responsibility of local bodies and gram panchayat- The local bodies shall be responsible for for setting up, operationalisation and coordination of waste management system and for performing associated function.
- Responsibility of retailers and street vendors- They shall not sell their commodities in carry bags which are banned under this rule. Offenders have pay fines.
- Pre-registration fee- Shopkeeper or vendor who sell their items in carry bags which are banned, they have to pay plastic waste management fee of Rs. 48,000 or Rs. 4,000 per month. This is only for registered shopkeepers.
- Reuse of plastic waste- Options to reuse plastics in various applications namely, road construction, waste to oil, waste to energy will enhance recycling of plastic.
- Land for waste management facility- Land allotment will be done by Department with business allocation of land allotment in state government.
Efforts to reduce plastic pollution
- 3 Rs : Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
- By reducing its consumption
- By cleaning up litters
- Promoting plastic recycling
- Zero Waste
- Reduce use of Plastics
- Avoid buying plastic items
- Use reusable cutlery to avoid single use plastics.
- Use reusable bags like cloth bags, jute bags for your grocery
- Shop and eat local foods so that you can avoid buying packaged food.
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